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Syria bombing: Where UK parties stand Syria bombing: Where UK parties stand
(3 days later)
David Cameron has said it is his "firm conviction" the UK should join other countries bombing Islamic State militants in Syria. David Cameron has urged MPs to back him over military intervention in Syria against so-called Islamic State extremists.
The prime minister has said he will set out his case for military action to Parliament later this week but will only call a vote when he believes the government can muster enough support to win. The prime minister set out what he called a "comprehensive case" before taking questions from 103 MPs over two hours and 40 minutes in the Commons.
An influential Commons committee urged Mr Cameron earlier this month not to press ahead with a vote on UK air strikes. He set out his response to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, which had warned the government against pressing ahead with air strikes.
But their intervention came before the deadly terror attacks in Paris, in which 130 people died, and the UN's subsequent decision to pass a resolution supporting action against Islamic State. MPs rejected air strikes against Syrian government targets in 2013. This time around, the PM said there would not be a Commons vote unless there was a clear majority for action, saying a government defeat would "hand a publicity coup" to IS.
Some MPs' minds are said to have changed their minds so where do the parties stand? Following the Paris attacks earlier this month, some MPs' minds are said to have changed their minds so where do the parties stand?
The Conservative PartyThe Conservative Party
The majority of Conservative MPs would vote to back extending UK air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.The majority of Conservative MPs would vote to back extending UK air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.
Thirty Conservative MPs rebelled against David Cameron in August 2013, when the Commons rejected his first attempt to launch bombing raids on Syria - albeit against the Assad regime rather than IS.Thirty Conservative MPs rebelled against David Cameron in August 2013, when the Commons rejected his first attempt to launch bombing raids on Syria - albeit against the Assad regime rather than IS.
A number of MPs who defied their party then - including Charles Walker and Andrew Bridgen - now say they will support the government, Mr Walker suggesting there was "no room for delay" in taking the fight to the extremists.A number of MPs who defied their party then - including Charles Walker and Andrew Bridgen - now say they will support the government, Mr Walker suggesting there was "no room for delay" in taking the fight to the extremists.
But about 20 Tory MPs are still expected to oppose any kind of intervention, arguing that bombing could be open-ended and will not help achieve a political solution to the civil war in Syria. One of the 2013 rebels told the BBC they predicted about 15 Conservatives would still oppose any kind of intervention, arguing that bombing could be open-ended and will not help achieve a political solution to the civil war in Syria.
One of the rebels, John Baron, told BBC News British air strikes would have a "marginal effect" on the battle against so-called Islamic State and could "risk escalating the problem". Tory MP Julian Lewis - who chairs the Commons Defence Select Committee - told the BBC IS could not be defeated militarily unless Western powers worked with the Syrian regime.
Total number of Conservative MPs: 331Total number of Conservative MPs: 331
The Labour PartyThe Labour Party
Labour is split on Syria. Leader Jeremy Corbyn is firmly opposed to military action, arguing for greater efforts to find a "peaceful solution". Labour is split on Syria. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, until recently chairman of the Stop the War Coalition, has indicated his opposition to air strikes, arguing for greater efforts to find a "peaceful solution".
But some of his MPs, including members of his shadow cabinet, have said they would back air strikes if they had proper military and legal justification, including the approval of the United Nations. Responding to Mr Cameron, he sought assurances the UK would not be dragged into a ground war and asked the PM whether UK air strikes would make any military difference.
But a number of his MPs, including members of his shadow cabinet, have said they would back air strikes if they had proper military and legal justification, including the approval of the United Nations.
They say the onus is on the government to come forward with a "comprehensive" strategy to stabilise Syria and to tackle extremism, demonstrating why it is in the UK's national interest to intervene.They say the onus is on the government to come forward with a "comprehensive" strategy to stabilise Syria and to tackle extremism, demonstrating why it is in the UK's national interest to intervene.
About 20 to 30 Labour MPs are thought to be in favour of air strikes and willing to defy the party leadership over the issue. One of those, Mike Gapes, has said he is putting the interests of the country ahead of party by doing so. Mr Corbyn is under pressure to offer a free vote on the issue - where they won't be instructed to vote in a certain way. The shadow Cabinet held its first of two meetings after Mr Cameron's statement and is trying to agree a collective front-bench position. Around half are said to be in favour of action.
Some MPs are pressing for what is called a free vote on the issue - where they won't be instructed to vote in a certain way. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell suggested in the autumn this might be possible but Mr Corbyn has since seemed to rule this out. Members have been told to consult their constituencies over the weekend, but if a free vote is not offered Mr Corbyn could face a sizeable rebellion if MPs are ordered to oppose air strikes.
Total number of Labour MPs: 232 Total number of Labour MPs: 231
The Scottish National PartyThe Scottish National Party
The SNP opposed military action in 2013 but has many more MPs now and can exert real influence. The SNP opposed military action in 2013 but has vastly increased its Westminster presence since the general election and can exert real influence.
The party says it will listen to the PM's case for military action but remains "unconvinced" about the merits of the UK intervening. The party says it will not support air strikes in Syria unless the prime minister is able to address "key questions" that "remain unanswered".
Foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond told the BBC there was "no shortage" of countries bombing Syria at the moment. "Everyone and their auntie is bombing someone in Syria," he said. "What there is a shortage of is a coherent plan to bring about peace in Syria in a rapid timescale." Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, said there was no effective ground support in place to take and hold territory.
There should be more focus, he says, on disrupting Islamic State's communications and finances, asserting Western values to counter IS propaganda and preparing a long-term reconstruction plan for Syria. And he said there was no fully-costed reconstruction plan in place for Syria.
Total number of SNP MPs: 56 He added: "The prime minister has asked us to consider his plan. We have listened closely. However, key questions posed by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee remain unanswered.
"And unless the prime minister answers these questions satisfactorily, the Scottish National Party will not vote for airstrikes in Syria."
Total number of SNP MPs: 54
The Liberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has welcomed the UN resolution but indicated the government must do a lot more before counting on his party's support.Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has welcomed the UN resolution but indicated the government must do a lot more before counting on his party's support.
He has said David Cameron must reassure MPs there is a "broad coalition", including Russia, Turkey and Iran, working together on Syria and proper thought has been given to how Syria will be governed once Islamic State is removed. In the Common, he said the PM would have to provide "much more evidence" that moderate forces on the ground had the required "capability and the credibility".
He later told BBC News Mrs Cameron had made "a strong case" for air strikes but that he still had a number of questions.
Total number of Lib Dem MPs: 8Total number of Lib Dem MPs: 8
The Democratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party, along with the SDLP and the UUP, helped to sink David Cameron's last attempt to launch air strikes in Syria, with five of its MPs voting against the move and three absent.The Democratic Unionist Party, along with the SDLP and the UUP, helped to sink David Cameron's last attempt to launch air strikes in Syria, with five of its MPs voting against the move and three absent.
But DUP leader Nigel Dodds has suggested his party could take a different view this time around, saying he and his colleagues will "do the right thing for our nation's security, whatever that might entail". But DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds has suggested his party could take a different view this time around, saying he and his colleagues will "do the right thing for our nation's security, whatever that might entail".
Mr Dodds, who has said he expects to hold talks with the PM, has said any action must be realistic and effective to win his party's support and the prime minister must show he has learnt the lessons of the 2011 intervention in Libya. In the Commons, he again said the DUP would "put national security first" but did not specify which way his party would vote.
"Parliament must reflect soberly and well on the responsibility lying on it over the next few days," he added.
Total number of DUP MPs: 8Total number of DUP MPs: 8
Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru
Voted against military action last time and would be expected to do so again. Voted against military action last time and would be expected to do so again. Party leader Natalie Wood her party would "listen very carefully" to Mr Cameron's case for air strikes. During the Commons debate, the party's Westminster leader Hywel Williams said all other options should be considered before MPs are asked to vote on military action,
Total number of Plaid Cymru MPs: 3Total number of Plaid Cymru MPs: 3
UK Independence PartyUK Independence Party
UKIP's MP Douglas Carswell voted with the government in 2013, when he was a Conservative MP, despite expressing reservations about its lack of a "coherent strategy" in Syria. But UKIP has been consistent in its opposition to further military action.UKIP's MP Douglas Carswell voted with the government in 2013, when he was a Conservative MP, despite expressing reservations about its lack of a "coherent strategy" in Syria. But UKIP has been consistent in its opposition to further military action.
Green PartyGreen Party
The Green Party's MP Caroline Lucas voted against military action in 2013 and would be expected to do so again. The Green Party's only MP Caroline Lucas has confirmed she will vote against military action in Syria on the evidence presented so far, describing the case presented by Mr Cameron as "neither comprehensive nor compelling".
Party leader Natalie Bennett said the US-led bombing campaign, to date, had not reduced numbers of Islamic State fighters while the number of foreign nationals joining the extremist group had actually increased. Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
The party's MPs voted against military intervention in 2013 and have again expressed reservations.
Total number of SDLP MPs: 3
Ulster Unionists
The party's two MPs have met Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss his plan for air strikes and have said any action should be "thought out" and "targeted" with a clear exit strategy.